The Giants ended running back David Wilson’s season this week because of a neck injury that looks like it will be a factor in Wilson’s career beyond this season.

Wilson avoided immediate surgery on his neck, but Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that doctors have told Wilson that he faces an increased risk of doing further damage to his neck if he continues playing football. Wilson said in October that doctors believe he has spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column that can lead to pain, numbness and other problems.

Schefter adds that doctors have told Wilson that the decision to keep playing will be his to make and that the running back plans and expects to return to the field next season. The 2012 first-round pick had a disappointing year before getting hurt and the coaching staff never really seemed to warm to him in either of his first two seasons, but there’s no reason to think the Giants wouldn’t give him the shot to keep his career going in New York.

For now, though, Peyton Hillis and Andre Brown look like they’ll be doing the heavy lifting in the ground game for the Giants.